Investing in workplace inspections is money well spent, By providing a detailed and critical examination of the workplace, inspections help to identify hazards for corrective actions that reduce workplace injuries, illnesses, and claims; improve employee morale; and lower workers’ compensation and insurance costs.
There are many required inspections under numerous Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, but best-in-class companies go beyond those requirements to gain the many benefits of strong health and safety programs. All it takes is some proper preparation and planning.
Develop Guiding Principles
The first step in developing a workplace health and safety inspection program is to create a statement of principles and general guidelines that govern the company's safety and health initiatives. It tells personnel and clients about the organization's commitment to safety and health.
Identify and Control Hazards
The goal of this step is the identification of existing and potential hazards to workers and the workplace, along with the necessary measures that need to be taken to reduce, eliminate, or control hazards, including forming emergency procedures.
Types of workplace hazards include:
- Unsafe workplaces caused by inadequate equipment or facilities and risky work practices
- Biological hazards from people, plants, and animals (e.g. COVID-19!)
- Chemical hazards from dangerous substances in the workplace
- Poor ergonomic conditions that cause musculoskeletal problems
- Physical hazards that endanger workers without direct contact, such as radiation, noise, extreme heat and cold, and vibration
- Psychosocial hazards that negatively affect the psychological and physical well-being of workers.
Responsibilities
This step should discuss what health and safety responsibilities are common to each workplace and who is accountable for overseeing those responsibilities.
Effective Inspections
Day-to-day activities in any workplace can create safety and health hazards. People, equipment, and materials continuously change, and inspections help focus attention on solving problems before they cause further troubles.
A proper inspection plan should include:
- Checks of equipment before use or after repair
- Regular preventive=maintenance inspections
- Hazard inspections of critical parts and materials
- Hygiene inspections
- General inspections of the workplace facility.
Checklists
A checklist can help clarify inspection responsibilities, control inspection activities, and provide a detailed report of the results. When used correctly, it’s an assurance that a particular worksite, building, piece of equipment, or any other potential hazard has been adequately inspected.
Takeaway
Inspections are useful in drawing attention to dysfunctional health and safety practices. They are an effective tool for identifying and correcting problems before they cause injuries and illnesses, and the management team should be committed to developing a functional, cost-effective inspection program using inspection checklists.
The Checker is committed to helping enterprises develop inspection programs that help the business and its personnel. You can use either The Checker Software or our Checklist Books to increase the value of your company’s inspections.
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